William J. Oakley Jr., of Rio Grande, NJ, formerly of Turnersville, NJ passed peacefully in his home on May 9, 2022, at the age of 76. Born in Montclair, NJ, William was the son of William and Mary Oakley Sr. A member of the first graduating class of The Christian Brother’s Academy in Lincroft, NJ, William would later attend La Salle College in Philadelphia, PA where he met his beloved wife Veronica (deceased) who attended nearby Einstein Medical School of Nursing. Father of William J. Oakley III (Natallia) & Karen Wallitsch (Dominic), and grandfather of William Oakley IV, Roman Voinea, Edward Patrick Oakley, Megan Wallitsch, and Kelly Wallitsch. William’s lifelong commitment to the service of at-risk youth started with his employment at St. Gabriel’s Hall of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and continued in his work with youth shelters and youth based charitable organizations in Southern NJ. A Past President of the New Jersey State Elks Association, for three years William helped facilitate a youth drug and alcohol awareness conference before launching the New Jersey State Elks Peer Leadership Conference in 1989, which has been held annually for the past thirty-four years. The Peer Leadership conference hosts hundreds of youths each year to increase each participant’s ability to make healthy decisions for themselves, and to assist their peers in doing the same. William was a lover of all things “Goofy”. He relished being a “traveler” rather than a “tourist” through life, enjoying hearty meals and drink with family and friends, at home and abroad. Funeral Services to be held Friday, May 20 th with viewing from 9:30am to 10:30am and Mass at 11:00am in St. Anne’s Church, Wildwood, NJ. Private interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery of Blackwood, NJ at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: New Jersey State Elks Association Memo Line: Peer LeadershipPO Box 1596 Woodbridge, NJ 07095